He was also banned from keeping poultry for five years and the RSPCA seized the three remaining chickens in his care.

Co-defendant Colin McNeill, 45, also of Monks Place, Caterham, was cleared on all six counts.

The RSPCA prosecuted Walker after discovering 40 chickens kept in unsatisfactory and unhygenic conditions and for failing to address their underweight conditions.

He was also charged for keeping foxes in an unsuitable enclosure.

Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Rachel London said: "It is unthinkable how stressful it must have been for the foxes and the chickens to be housed side by side, not to mention the overgrown and totally unsuitable nature of the housing itself.

"Thankfully, despite these conditions, this case has a happy ending.

"The foxes were both rehabilitated and released back into the wild and 39 of the 40 chickens were well enough to be rehomed as well."